Chapter 2: Friends?
The sounds of tiny feet slapping against the small puddles on the sidewalk were quiet and gentle. The storm had finally passed over night and brought lightly colored grey clouds that softly cried. Xion looked up at the dull sky, feeling the slight drizzle on her face. She moved Roxas's umbrella back over her and continued to walk. Her black boots continued to splash in the puddles that covered the sidewalk.
I wonder if Roxas will be here today? She wondered. Ever since their first meeting yesterday, Xion couldn't help but think about him. She never seen him around before. He's most likely a deliquent. Always skipping class, causing trouble, sitting hours on end in detention. However, there was something good about his character. A misunderstood soul.
The sound of violent rushing water burst through Xion's thoughts. She stopped and glanced over to see the largest river in her town swollen twice its size from the storm last night. She felt the violent current shake the sturdy bridge. Xion quickly brought her head down and found a smooth stone. Picking it up, she ran over to the other side and chucked it with enough force to make almost throw out her arm. It flew about 10 feet in the air before crashing through the surface of the water. Xion saw how quickly the current sucked up the stone and dragged it underneath its icy surface.
Xion blankly stared at the river before continuing her walk to school. A few rays of sunshine broke through the grey clouds that imprisoned them and denied the world the comforting warmth that the sun offered.
Xion tugged at her sapphire blue turtle neck sweater as she walked through the noisy hallways. As she stood in fron of her locker, she noticed a neatly folded note sticking through the vent in her locker. She slipped it out and unfolded it, reading the content inside.
'Go do us all a favor and go die you stupid bitch.
You're just a nobody that no one cares about.
The world would be a better place if you didn't exist.'
The bottom of the page had a glittery pink kiss as a signature. Xion felt nothing upon reading the letter. She crumpled the piece of paper and continued to walk through the hallway.
"Ha! Ha!" Namine's obnoxious laugh filled the air. A large crowd of mindless followers crowded around her and hung to her every word. She flipped her golden locks as Xion passed by. Their eyes locked on to each other. Xion saw hate filled in Namine's eyes as a wicked grin curled up on her perfect face. In the reflect of Namine's eyes was Xion's cold empty stare.
Xion broke eye contact and continued through the halls.
The last period of the day came by again. Xion sat quietly at her seat, swinging her feet back and forth as she patiently waited for Roxas to show up. It was already half way through class. Xion looked at her right hand. There was a small cut on her palm. She gently traced the numb flesh around the injury.
"Sorry, I'm late," said a voice from behind.
Xion quickly hid her hand as Roxas sat down next to her. He looked differnt this time. His hair was now platinum blonde and it was cut short in the back. His spiky hair had calm down a little as parts were smoothed down and his bangs hung even more in his face. There was another piercing under the right corner of his lip.
He ran his fingers though his hair. "Like it?"
Xion just blinked at him. She grabbed some supplies from the tray in front of her and began silently working.
Roxas frowned. "What are we doing?"
Xion didn't answer. She continued to work by herself.
Roxas tapped on the desk as he watched Xion work. "You're pretty good at this. I'm glad I got paired up with a genious. An anti-social genious, but a genious."
Xion stopped working for a moment, acknowloging the compliment, but she quickly went back to work.
The period was soon over. Roxas got out of his seat and headed out into the crowd in the hallway. As he reached the stairs, he felt a slight tug on his shirt. Roxas turned around and saw Xion. She held his umbrella out to him.
"Thank you for letting me borrow your umbrella," she said in an quiet voice.
Roxas laughed as he ruffled up Xion's short black hair. "Silly, I was giving it to you," he said with a smile.
Xion looked a bit surprised. She looked down at the umbrella. "T-thank you. How can I repay you?"
"By letting me walk home with you," he said with a sly smile.
Xion's face went blank. She walked past him down the stairs without an answer.
"I'm going to follow you anyway," he said as he went after her.
"Isn't that called stalking?" Xion asked in a monotone voice.
Roxas shrugged. "Call it what you will, but I walk the same way as you to get home."
Xion walked a little faster. Soon they were outside the school. "Just find another way home," she snapped.
Roxas grabbed Xion's hand. "Listen Xion. You don't always have to be alone. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to get to know my partner a little better. Just let me walk home with you just this once and if you don't like it, I'll just find another way home." Roxas realized he was still holding onto Xion's small hand. It was so soft and tiny in his large calloused hands. He felt like he had to hold it forever to protect her. Roxas quickly released her hand. He cleared his throat. "Well?"
Xion turned around and looked up at him. There was a soft glow in her dim eyes. "I guess we could try."
Roxas smiled. "That's the spirit. And hey, maybe we'll become friends."
Xion had a surprised look on her face as her mouth formed that strange word. "Friends?"